Environmental challenges and opportunities: The new era of radioactive waste management

The safe disposal of radioactive waste presents one of the most difficult environmental problems raced by industrial countries. The safety of a nuclear waste repository is largely dependent on the behaviour-of the surrounding ground water. This ground water will inevitably enter the repository and dissolve the radionuclides. The contamination of ground water in this way presents the most important risk posed by radioactive waste disposal. Due to the complexity of the chemical and hydrogeological systems that will determine radionuclide migration rates, the quantification of the level of risk presented by radioactive waste disposal is currently subject to errors of many orders of magnitude. As a result of these errors it is possible that the discharges from a nuclear waste repository could result in doses that considerably exceed the regulatory limit. The successful resolution of this problem is critically dependent on the application of a sound scientific approach. This requires a paced approach programme in order that the research results map be assimilated and utilised. Furthermore it requires that the research is subject to full peer review in order that any errors or omissions may be identified and addressed, There are significant opportunities opening up for the countries that successfully develop expertise and technology in this area to export these skills to the growing international market. However, in the UK the nuclear waste disposal body UK Nirex Ltd has been severely constrained by its lack of independence from the nuclear industry. Within its current structure Nirex is not competent to meet the challenge of safe radioactive waste management. Nirex must be disbanded and a new independent organisation with a remit to develop a robust scientifically based approach to long term radioactive waste management must be established. It is only in this way that the challenges and opportunities created by the new era or radioactive waste management may be met.